Why I Love This Year's Travel Team

As the trip leader I have to be semi-serious most of the time so I will now take this blogging opportunity to vent my silly side. In any case, my minions have written enough insightful posts to satisfy the more academically minded.

Now for anybody who has ever been on a trip before, you know that what can make or break a trip is the people you travel with. I am happy to announce that I love everybody on this trip and here are 25 reasons why.

1. Impromptu sing-alongs and dancing in public are a regular occurrence.
2. Although the team had been pre-disposed to dislike Inka Cola, the Peruvian national soda, they have all learned to enjoy it. We now drink Inka Cola every day with our meals.
3. Love polyhedrons. Alejandro “Alex” Mendoza. Simba/Fred. Extended inside joke. Further elaboration impossible.
4. My food buddy Emily. Together we almost always make the clean plate club.
5. The Clean Plate Club. Only people who regularly finish their mountain of rice and potatoes can join.
6. Everybody on the team will make a good housewife one day.
7. We can fit 3 people in one bed no problem.
8. Fruit Ninja is considered an appropriate use of one’s free time.
9. Chocolate and bread runs are part of our daily routine.
10. Amazing fly swatting skills.
11. They finally learned that “please, put on your shoes” means “put on your shoes and be ready to leave in less than five minutes or else you will be locked inside the house”.
12. Leo’s pyjamas make him look like he just escaped from prison.
13. We always need a second round of aji at ever meal (even breakfast)
14. We have team workouts. Sounds effects provided by Nicole.
15. Tom is a cool cat; master climber, boy scout, all-around handyman. Seriously, where did we find such a good mentor?
16. People were willing to ride in the back of a pick-up truck…the second time around.
17. Everybody tries to speak Spanish and make friends.
18. Nobody has yet injured himself or herself walking down mountain paths.
19. Quotable quotes abound.
20. We do everything like a Prakhstar.
21. Prakhar finally figured out how to turn off his morning cellphone alarm.
22. My daily abs exercise is laughter.
23. It is so easy to make fun of people in this team.
24. Nicole’s facial expressions…there are so many!
25. The girls are more outdoorsy than the guys (except for Tom of course).